Indonesian Languages..?

Question

I came across a few sayings a while back, said that they were in Minangenese (I think). What is Minangenese?
Does Indonesia have more than Bahasa Indonesia? Is it commonly used? Or is Bahasa more effective?

Anyone know where I can get them translated? Or anyone speak this Minangenese?

thanks to both of you, and i think i will email you.
may Minangkabau is what im thinking of. im not tooo sure. this whole learning indonesian has turned out to harder than i thought... eep.

Answer 1

Hey, I'm a Minangnese so I definetely can help you about it!^^

And just some explanation on Indonesian languages.
Indonesia is a highly multicultural country, there are more than 100 ethnic groups with their own languages for sure - some even say there are more than 500 (it maybe true, there are more than 13,000 islands - including small ones - in the archipelago).
Minang, is one of them. The complete name is Minang Kabau. Minang derives from the word "manang", which means "menang" in Indonesian and "to win" in English.
Kabau, derives from the Indonesian word "Kerbau" which means "buffalo" in English.
This naming has to do with the history of how the Minang people defeated the "Javenese-who-wanted-to-rule-our-land" . They had a bull-fight and the Minang buffalo won, that's how the land's been named "Minang Kabau" since then.

um... 45% Indonesian are Javanese, so javanese language is more popular in the country. However, there are several languages that's most well-known: Java, Sunda, Batak, Minang, Manado, and.. Betawi, which is so-much alike to Indonesian language.

Indonesian people usually use their mother language in daily conversation. Meaning if you go to West Sumatera you'd find everybody speak Minang; as North Sumateran people would speak Batak in daily life (and chinese Hokkian for some communities). But don't worry if you go to big cities, as Jakarta - for example, everybody speak Indonesian.
But even though you go to the villages, people know how to speak Indonesian coz it's a definite 2nd language for everyone.

You can also contact me if you need more infos :)

Ow, anyway, Minang is the most interesting ethnic group in Indonesia as far as I'm concerned - not coz it's my ethnic group, but coz it's matrilineal. One of only two in the entire globe. (the other one's in Philipine)

Answer 2

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language of the Republic of Indonesia, but

They have 350 native languages currently in use throughout the country, so it is possible there is a Minangenese one among them.

Never heard of it, though. They do have Minangkabau.

Answer 3

there are many ethnic groups and dialects in Indonesia and Bahasa Minang is one of them . Bahasa Indonesia is the national language and it is commonly used in the country as tools for communications .
you could mail to me and i try to get it translated.

Answer 4

bahasa means language...so if you combine bahasa with indonesia it means the indonesian language.